A view of an obstetrics and gynecology examination room. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The cost of private hospital rooms, particularly in departments such as pediatrics and obstetrics, shows stark regional disparities in South Korea, with fees in Seoul more than double those in some rural areas, according to newly released government data.
Data obtained by Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service revealed that in 2024, the average daily non-reimbursed cost for a single-occupancy superior room in hospitals was 107,948 won ($80) in North Gyeongsang Province — the lowest among South Korea’s 17 major cities and provinces.
In contrast, Seoul recorded the highest average cost at 213,882 won ($160), more than twice that of North Gyeongsang and the only region where the average exceeded 200,000 won.
Nationwide, the average daily cost stood at 153,604 won ($115).
The gap is even more dramatic at the individual hospital level. A hospital in Yeonje District, Busan, charged just 5,000 won ($3.75) per day for a private room, while a facility in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam District reportedly charged up to 3 million won ($2,240) — a staggering 600-fold difference.
In March 2024 alone, the total national expenditure on non-reimbursed single-occupancy superior room charges reached 52.3 billion won ($39 million). Of this, hospitals accounted for 45.5 billion won, while clinics made up the remaining 6.8 billion won.
By department, pediatrics led with 13.8 billion won in non-reimbursed charges (26.3%), followed closely by obstetrics at 11.9 billion won (22.7%).
Rep. Kim urged the government to develop a transparent price comparison platform to help patients make informed decisions and to address regional imbalances in healthcare costs. She also called for policies to offer incentives to hospitals outside the Seoul metropolitan area and to prevent excessive competition among healthcare providers.
“Patients should not bear disproportionate costs simply based on where they live,” Kim said. “A coordinated policy approach is essential to ensure fairness and sustainability in the healthcare system.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
